Re the whole buttonning issue: You should be able to stay warm in a peacoat without buttoning every button.
Also, ask yourself: What would Bond do?

What Bond would do is leave the top button unbuttoned for access to his PPK. The bottom button would be left undone so he wouldn't strain it when he sat down in his Aston Martin. He would also freeze his 007 ass off in the English Winter!

Yes, mysteries abound, especially in the world of vintage pea coats. Some of them I just can't worry about.

Your chest is a tweener size; it is harder to get a good fit than if you had a 42" or 40" chest.
What I think is that it is a good fit, but the only one who matters is you. If you are sensitive about sleeve length, as I am, then there should be enough material in the cuff to extend the sleeves about 1 to 1 1/2" if you want to do that. You probably only need about an inch. The tailor can "scab" onto the original material in the cuff with another piece of material. After he is finished it will be difficult to to see where the original cuff line was. Brush the cuff and then have it dry cleaned. I just had my size 40 peacoat lengthened in the sleeves. Worked very well. Some people like their sleeves the length you have, or even shorter, so it is just up to you.
Congratulations on a good score. I would never sell that coat.

Thank you for the answer, but after after trying a few times more I don't fell comfortable with the way it fits me, specially in the shoulders and chest that I feel too wide. But since it's a very nice coat almost brand new, I'm going to give it to my father seems to be his size and maybe I can get it back after the years. Now I'm in the searching again for a 38.

Thank you for the answer, but after after trying a few times more I don't fell comfortable with the way it fits me, specially in the shoulders and chest that I feel too wide. But since it's a very nice coat almost brand new, I'm going to give it to my father seems to be his size and maybe I can get it back after the years. Now I'm in the searching again for a 38.

What Bond would do is leave the top button unbuttoned for access to his PPK. The bottom button would be left undone so he wouldn't strain it when he sat down in his Aston Martin. He would also freeze his 007 ass off in the English Winter!

LOL. Yes, well, Bond would not freeze his ass off in the English winter because he'd be prepared for that kind of weather with something more appropriate than a peacoat.

I would offer that if you need to button all the buttons on your peacoat against the cold and look like you don't know how to properly wear a peacoat, then you need to switch to a topcoat or a parka or something.

I again consulted Navy regs for the "proper" way to wear a peacoat, and for the life of me I couldn't find the method you advocate. Maybe there has been an update in the last month, and it hasn't yet made it to print yet?

I will say I find your advocacy of buttoning only one button much easier on the eyes than the fad a few years ago of buttoning none of the buttons and just letting all of the double breasted material flap around. What a mess that was.

Hi! New guy here! I just recieved this wwII peacoat this week, and I don't know if keep it or sell it. My chest measures 41" and I buy a size 40 (still have the tag on the collar), but it's not as trim as I expected and the sleeves are a little short, so if I downsize they will look ridiculous. What do you think?

How tall are you? I wear longer coats because im 6"2, but this one looks fairly short

Actually the English Winter is perfectly situated for pea coats.
I again consulted Navy regs for the "proper" way to wear a peacoat, and for the life of me I couldn't find the method you advocate. Maybe there has been an update in the last month, and it hasn't yet made it to print yet?
I will say I find your advocacy of buttoning only one button much easier on the eyes than the fad a few years ago of buttoning none of the buttons and just letting all of the double breasted material flap around. What a mess that was.
Stay warm there in the mountains. PC.

Funny. I hardly am pretending to say there is a standard way to wear it. But considering that two of my go-to standards, J. Crew and J. Bond, prefer this method of buttoning, I, personally, have determined that this is the "coolest" way to wear a peacoat.

I've heard of Pembroke Inc from the thread, but any info on Trenton Sportswear? Other wise both jackets seem to be similar (both Kersey Wool), condition and size-wise. The shorter sleeve wouldn't make so much of a difference, assuming there's length to be let out.

Funny. I hardly am pretending to say there is a standard way to wear it. But considering that two of my go-to standards, J. Crew and J. Bond, prefer this method of buttoning, I, personally, have determined that this is the "coolest" way to wear a peacoat.
I will go to my grave believing this.

Winter hasn't come to my area yet, so it is easy to be cool. When it does get cold, I am going to button all buttons and put on a scarf. Only way to go in cold weather. Cool is good until it gets cold, then I want to be warm.